OLD SHILOH BURYING GROUND

By: Christi Watkins

A LITTLE HISTORY

(names listed below)

This burying ground is located in one of the first communities of Gibson County called Shiloh. Around 1836, camp meetings were held on this site. The Shiloh church was established and the land was deeded by John Becton in 1836. Early trustees were: Henry Allison, James Sharp and Bill Becton. The first minister is believed to have been Rev. E. S. Campbell. According to the Register of Deeds for Gibson County, the Fruitland Presbyterian Church has the ownership of the Old Shiloh Burying Ground.

The oldest marked grave at Old Shiloh is that of C. S. Parker, born May 11, 1821 died September 29, 1843. The last person known to have been buried here is Mrs. A. H. Barker b. June 23, 1875 d. March 10, 1956. Several early Gibson County families are listed as buried here. They are: the Colemans, the Cresaps, the Hayes, the Hazlewoods, the Loves, the Mayfields, the Parkers, the Sloans and the Warrens (and many others).

One notable grave at Old Shiloh is that of Nathan Henry Dow, one of Gibson County’s first educators. Mr. Dow taught in one of the first schools, in the vicinity of Humboldt.

There are many unmarked graves at this Old Shiloh site. It is known that Johnnie Alvis Shotts was buried there in July of 1930/31. She was a nurse from Memphis who drowned in the Mississippi River on the 4th of July. There have also been reports that there are unmarked graves of several negro slaves, located on the Eastern part of the property.

(This history was received by my parents while visiting this site in 1997)